John Rambo, stayin’ alive? Today on Screen Daily it was reported that Rambo 5 is scheduled to film in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia. Nu Boyana Studios, a substantive production house for Southeastern Europe, is building 10 new sound stages in the area, and apparently the next installment in the Sylvester Stallone war-vet franchise is booked first in line.

Since the January release of the fourth Rambo, the best hardcore action film in a while (10/10), Stallone has waffled considerably on whether a Rambo 5 will happen. He’s hinted that he hopes to take the character into a “slightly different genre,” leaving many fans to speculate sci-fi or a more comic bookish approach, only to deaden those rumors. Recently he’s reverted back to the “new genre” line, amidst yet more rumors of making Cliffhanger 2: The Dam. Exhausted yet?

Harvey Weinstein was quick to announce his hunger for a follow-up to Rambo, but if the sequel will indeed film in Bulgaria, that would go against his and fans’ desire to see Rambo return to America. I’d rather see a 5 than Sly’s planned Death Wish remake or, especially, Cliffhanger 2, and I think the sentiment will catch on more once the flick hits DVD. More on this if/when it develops.

Discuss: What is the best action film you’ve seen recently that wasn’t a Western or a video game/comic book/fantasy adaptation?

If true, this is a bad move. PR Insider reports that Sylvester Stallone is in negotiations with Sony Pictures to revise his character Cliffhanger, er, Gabe Walker, in a sequel to 1993’s Cliffhanger, which grossed $84 million domestically and $200 million plus worldwide. The sequel will be entitled The Dam, which automatically makes me think of the “surefire” pitch that became 1996’s megaflop Daylight: Stallone versus dam tunnel. And, I’m so sure, there are challenging cliffs to hang from on a dam.

“There’s only one man for this job.” – Guy in Hard Hat with Walkie Talkie

Stallone’s Rambo is nearing $40 million domestic, but won’t reach the $70 million heights of Rocky Balboa. Super Bowl weekend seemed to take out a chunk of its potential business, as word of mouth was overwhelmingly positive. Worldwide, the sequel is still rolling out, and the industry already views the film as a success; the press, another success story. As much as I think Stallone remaking Charles Bronson’s Death Wish is uninspired, bookending another of his Golden Oldies, one memorable only for its atmosphere and a bug-eyed villain played by John Lithgow, narrows the scope of his latest comeback and opens up the punchlines.